Contract Faculty Ratify Collective Agreement with University of Toronto

As Unit 3 settles, CUPE 3902 calls on U of T Administration to 'sit down and get the job done with Unit 1'

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - March 10, 2015) - Contract faculty at the University of Toronto, members of Unit 3, Local 3902 of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE 3902-3) have ratified a new three-year collective agreement.

Voting took place from March 2 to March 10, with 76.8 per cent of those casting ballots voting in favour of accepting the agreement.

"This agreement contains notable gains in the field of job security," said Dr. Erin Black, Chair of CUPE 3902 and co-chief negotiator of the agreement. "Most notably, it provides protection for existing bargaining unit work, something Unit 3 members have been fighting for since 2009."

With the Unit 3 agreement concluded, Black called on University of Toronto Administration to return to the bargaining table to conclude a collective agreement with the 6,000 members of CUPE 3902-1, who have been on strike since February 28

"While we are obviously pleased that Unit 3 has achieved a collective agreement, the time for U of T Administration to come to the table with Unit 1 is now. The only thing standing in the way of a collective agreement is the University's unwillingness to return to the table with Unit 1," said Black.

Ryan Culpepper, chair of CUPE 3902-1, hailed the agreement with Unit 3 as an "important step" towards a return to normal campus operations.

"Members of CUPE 3902-1 are very happy our colleagues made significant gains in the areas they set out as their priorities. We believe the strength of member mobilization made these gains possible and we will continue to advocate for the priorities set by the Unit 1 members," he said.

"I know both Unit 1 and 3 members will fight to see Unit 1 realize its priorities, which are to increase the standard of living for Unit 1 members, but U of T Administration needs to sit down and negotiate. We remain ready to bargain at a moment's notice, and it's time for the Administration to get the job done with Unit 1," he added.